Elevator-door-control system



Dec. 10, 1929. BRADY 1,738,686

ELEVATOR DOOR CONTROL SYSTEM Filed Dec. 50, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet. 1

ATTORNEY Dec. 10, 1929. BRADY 1,738,686

' ELEVATOR DOOR CONTROL SYSTEM Filed Dec. 30; 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 AT ORNEY Dec. 10, 1929.

r. BRADY ELEVATOR DOOR CONTROL SYSTEM 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 30. 1927 FIGS INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 10, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE THOMAS BRADY, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, .A SSIGNOR TO OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY, OF NEZV YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY ELEVATOR-DOOR-CONTROL SYSTEM Application filed December 30, 1927. Serial No. 243,600.

The invention relates to elevators and particularly to power actuated mechanism for operating the car gate and shaft doors.

It is desirable to use poweractuated mechanism for operating the car gate and shaft 5 doors particularly in cases where the gate and doors must be frequently operated and in cases where their manual operation is inconvenient. In the use of power actuated mechanism it is desirable that the actuating means I be sufficiently powerful to rapidly operate the gate and doors and yet avoid danger of injury to either the operating mechanism or to a person whenever the closing door strikes a person. It is also desirable that in rapidly operating the gate and doors they be brought to a stop without impact or slamming.

One feature of the invention is the provision of mechanism, actuated by an electric motor for opening the car gate and shaft door, and actuated by a spring motor for closing the car gate and shaft door.

A second feature of the invention is the. provision of car gate and shaft door operating mechanism in which the entire mechanism including the operating motors is mounted upon the car obviating the necessity of separate operating motors in connection with each shaft door.

85 mechanism when the elevator car stops opposite that door, thereby connecting that door to the operating mechanism.

A fourth feature of the invention is the provision of locking means for each shaftdoor for locking the shaft door in closed position, the locking means of any one door being positively operated by the door operat ng mechanism to unlock that door when the operating mechanism moves to open that door and to lock that door when the operating mechanism moves to close that door.

A fifth feature of the invention is the provision of means for preventing energization so of the elevator motor to move the car away from a landing unless the shaft door is closed small number of parts, and a very simple,.

rugged and compact construction.

Other features and advantages will become apparentfrom the following description and appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is anelevation of a portion of an elevator shaftway and an elevator car opposite a shaftway opening, showing car gate and shaft door operating mechanism constructed in accordance with the invention; 1 Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation of the car gate and shaft door operating mechanism, taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, with portions broken away to illustrate certain structural details, showing the position of some of the operating parts when both theshaft door and car gate are closed;

Figure 3 is a reduced sectional view, taken on the line 33 of Figure -1, illustrating the shaftdoor locked in closed position;

F igure 4 is a fragmentary elevation of the car gate and shaft door operating mechanism, taken on the line fr-4; of Figure 1, with portions broken away to illustrate certain structural details, showing the position of some of the operating parts when both the car gate and shaft door are open;

Figure 5 is an enlarged elevation of a portioniof the car gate and shaft door operating mechanism, taken on the line 55 of Figure 2, illustrating the general arrangement of the car gate and shaft door closing motors, together with the opening and closing cushioning checks;

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional view, taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 5, illustrating the construction of the car gate and shaft door closing motor .and closing cushioning check;

' Figure 7 is an enlarged sectional view, taken .on the line 77 of Figure 5, illustrating the 13 is provided for elevator car 10, and a slid ing door 14 is provided for shaftway opening 11. Gate 13 is provided with suitable hangers 17 mounted ona rail18 disposed above the gate. Door 14 is provided with suitable hangers 15 mounted on a rail 16 disposed above shaft-way opening '11.

Car gate and shaft door operating mechanism 20 is mounted upon elevator car 10, a suitable frame 19 being provided for supporting mechanism 20. Frame 19 is formed by two channels 21, one channel being-placed on each side of car 10, and a channel 22 extending between and riveted to the front ends of channels 21. Each channel 21 is riveted at its rear end to an upright channel 23 of elevator car 10, andat its front end to supporting bar 24, the supporting bar being riveted to crosshead 25 of elevator car 10.

A cross angle 26 serves as the immediate support for mechanism 20. Cross angle 26, clearly shown in Figure 4, is supported by channel 22 through the medium of a number of brackets 27. A track structure 28 having an upper track- 31, a lower track 32 and spacers 33, to which the upper andplower tracks are bolted, is securely connected to cross angle 26 by means of rivets 34, spacers 35 being placed between cross angle 26 and track structure28. Tracks 31 and 32 lie in a plane parallel to the planes in which car gate 13 and-shaft door 14'move. A carriage 36 provided with flanged rollers 37 is mounted to move along track structure 28. i A plate J 38 serves to retain lower rollers 37 in place.

While a plate 41 serves to retain upper rollers 37 in place. Track structure 28 is provided With gate stops 39. A shoe 42, composed of two vertical members 43, suitably flanged outwardly at both ends, is securely bolted to carriage 36. Carriage 36 and shoe 42 movev in a plane parallel to the planes of movement of car gate 13 and shaft door 14. i

A bearing 44 is bolted to one end of cross angle, 26. A shaft 45- is journaled within bearing 44. .An operating sprocket 46 is I keyed upon one end of shaft 45 and a jack shaft sprocket 47 is keyed upon the other end of shaft 45, the keys preventing relative movement between shaft 45 and sprockets 46 and 47; A channel member 50 is rigidly secured to the other end of eross angle 26 by means of a gusset plate 51 and an angle member 52, gusset plate '51 being bolted tochannel member 50 and to the vertical portion of cross angle 26 while angle member 52 is bolted to ehanned member 50 and to the horizontal portion of cross angle 26. To secure v operating sprocket 46 and over idler pulley 54 and thence backto carriage plate 41 to which its other end is connected. Rotation of operating sprocket 46 causes movement of chain 57 and therefore movement of carriage 36. 'An operating motor 60, which may be either alternating current or direct current, is provided for causing operating SPIOCkGL 46 to rotate in one direction. Motor 60 is bolted to support channels 61, channels 61 being bolted at one end to car crosshead 25 and at the other end to support 'b'rackets'62,

support brackets 62, in turn, being bolted to cross angle 26." A motorv sprocket 63 is secured to the motor shaft. A chain 64 is provided for transmitting motion from motor sprocket 63 to jack shaft sprocket 47. When the motor shaft is caused to rotate in a' counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 2, carriage 36 is caused to move toward the right, as viewed in Figure 2, that is, in a shaft door and car gateopening direction.

A motor base 65 is secured to channel-member 50 by means of bolts 66. Motor base 65 serves to support shaft door and cargate 016sing motors, and opening and closing cushioning checks. Numerals 67 indicate the closing motors and closing cushioning checks, while numeral 68 indicates the opening cushioning check. Each closing motor :67 is provided with a tongue 69, each tongue 69 being pivoted to arms 70, projecting from motor base 65,.by means of a pin 71. Closing motors 67 are operably connected to carriage 36 for causing movement ofthe carriage toward the 1eft',as viewed in Figure 2, that is, in a shaft door and car gate closing direction, upon operation of the. motors. The connecting means also operably connects carriage 36 with the opening and closing cushioning checks. The connecting means comprises a rocker arm 72, a yoke arm 73, an arm yoke 74, a link and a yoke 76. Rocker arm 72 is connected to upper carriage plate 41 by means of a pivot bracket 77, and to yoke arm 73 by pin 83. Link 75 is pivotally connected to yoke 76, yoke 76 being pivotally connected to arms 84, projecting from base 65, by means of a pin 85. Yoke 76 is provided at each end with bifurcated lugs 86 and between its ends with a bifurcated lug 87. Tongues formed on nuts 88 extend within the'bifurcations of lugs 86 and are pivotally connected thereto by means of pins 90. A tongue formed on upper yoke member, 91 of yoke 93 extends within the bifurcation of lug 8 7 and is pivotally connected thereto by means of a pin 94. Upper yoke member 91 is connected to lower yoke member 92 by means of connecting members 95. A guide 96 is provided for connecting members 95. Lower yoke member 92 is provided with a bifurcated nut 97 to accommodate a tongue 98 formed upon the check cylinder of opening cushioning check 68. The rod 100, of check 68 has threaded thereon a nut 101, upon which a tongue 102 is formed. Tongue 102 extends between and is pivotally connected to arms 103, projecting from base 65. Nuts 88 are threaded on rods 104 of closing motors 67. Thus, as carriage 36 is moved toward the right, as viewed in Figure 2. yoke arm 76 swings in a clockwise direction and rods 104 and yoke 93 move upwardly, and as carriage 36 is moved toward the left, as.

viewed in Figure 2, yoke 76 swings in a counterclockwise direction and rods 104 and yoke 93 move downwardly.

The construction of the closing motor and closing cushioning check mechanism is clearly shown in Figure 6. Rod 104 extends downwardly into a check cylinder 105, the lower end of which is closed by plug 106. The closing operating motor comprises a sleeve 107 mounted upon rod 104 and being adjustably threaded at its upper end to the rod. A nut 108 serves to secure sleeve 107 in position upon the rod. Nuts 110 are threaded upon the lower end of sleeve 107. A spring clamp 111 rests upon washer 112 supported by nuts 110 and clamps the upper end of a tension spring 113. The lower end of tension spring 113 is secured by eye bolts 114 that extend through aperturesprovided in check cylinder 105. The tension of spring 113 can be varied by adjusting the position of sleeve 107 relative to rod 104. From the foregoing description it will be seen that tension spring 113 is extended upon movement of carriage 36 toward the right, as viewed in Figure 2, that is, in a. car gate and shaft door opening direction, and that tension spring 113 exerts a force tending to move the carriage toward the left, as viewed in Figure 2, that is, in a car gate and shaft door closing direction.

The closing cushioning means comprises a piston 115 connected to' the lower end of rod 104 and adapted tomove within check cylinder 105. The lower end portion of check cylinder 105 is filled with a fluid, such as oil, a filling opening 116 being provided. A plug 117 normally closes opening116. Piston 115 is provided with a passage 118 extending therethrough from the top to the bottom and at the bottom of the piston this passage is enlarged as shown at 120. In this enlargement a ball check valve 121 is mounted. Check valve 121 opens downwardly and closes upwardly. A pin 122 is provided for supporting the check valve when piston 115 is traveling upwardly. When piston 115 moves upwardly. the fluid will pass downwardly through passage 118 since check valve 121 is open. When piston 115 "moves downwardly, however, check valv.e'121 is closed preventing the fluid from passing through passage 118. One wall of cyl nder 115 is provided with a by-pass 123 communicating with the bottom of the cylinder through a port 124 and communicating with the cylinder at a point above the bottom through-a port 125. The size ofv the opening through the port 125 can be regu lated by an adjustable needle valve 126. The lower portion of piston 115 is preferably reduced as shown at 127 to prevent the trapping passage to accommodate rod 104. Air vents 131 and 132 are formed within plug 130. A casing 133 for enclosing spring 113 is connected to cylinder 105 by means of a collar 134.

From the foregoing description it will be clear that as rod 104 is moved upwardly,

fluid that has been forced through passage 123 to the upper side of piston'115 during the downward movement of the piston passes .down through passage 118, check valve 121 being open, to the lower end of cylinder 105. Upon the upper edge of reduced portion 127 passing the lower edge of channels 128, any fluid remaining above piston 115 quickly bypasses around the piston through channels 128 to the lower portion oi cylinder 105.- Rod 104 is unretarded as it is moveddownwardly under the influence of spring 113;. until piston 115 breaks the" surface of the fluid column within the lower portion of cylinder 105. Check valve 121 then closes and upon further movement of piston 115 in a downward direction, the fluid is forced through passage 123 to the upper portion of cylinder 105, the resisting force exerted by the fluid uponpiston 115 depending upon the position of needle valve 126 within port 125. Thus, the cushioning check exerts a retarding force upon piston 115 and rod 104 only toward the end of their downward movement; the check permits an unretarded upward movement of the rod and piston.

The opening cushioning means comprises a piston 135 connected to the lower end of rod 100. A check cylinder 136 receives piston 135 and is adapted to move thereon as it is actuated from yoke 93. The lower portion of check cylinder 136 is filled with a fluid, such as oil, a filling opening 137 being provided, this opening being closed by a plug.

138. The construction of piston 135 is identical with that of piston 115. A passage 140 extends through the piston from top to bottom, the lower portion of passage 140 being enlarged at 141. Aball check valve 142 is mounted within this enlargement, the valve opening upon upward movement of piston 135 and closing upon downward movement of the piston. 142 during upward movement of piston 135. Cylinder 136 is provided with a by-pass 144,

communicating with the bottom of the cylinder through a port 145 and communicating with the cylinder at a point above the bottom through a port 146. The size of the opening through port 146 can be regulated by an ad- -.justable needlevalve 147. The lower portion of piston 135 is reduced at 148 to prevent the. trapping of fluid below the piston when cylinder 136 moves to its upper limit.

' -Cylinder 136 is provided with longitudinally ,extending- 'passages 150' through which" the fluid can be bypassed around the piston to effect a ready passage of the fluid to the lower portion of thecylinder during upward movement of cylinder 136.

. of cylinder 136 is closed by a plug 151.

The upper end Cylinder 136 is provided with a vent opening 152.

As cylinder 136 moves upwardly, the surfaceof the'fluid within the lower portion of the cylinder engages the lower surface of piston 135 closing valve 142. Upon continued upward movement of cylinder 136 the fluid .is forced through passage 144 to a higher portion of cylinder 136, the resisting force .exerted by the fluid upon the cylinder depending upon the position of needle valve 147 within passage 146. As cylinder 136 moves downwardly, valve 142 opens and the fluid passes through passage 140 to the lower portion of the cylinder and upon the lower edge of channels 150 passing the upper edge of reduced portion 148 any fluid remaining above the piston is quickly by-passed to the A pm 143 supports check valve lower portion of cylinder 136. Thus, the cushioning check exerts a retarding force upon cylinder 136 only toward the end of its upward movement; the check permits an unretarded downward movement of the cylthe gate. Normally, shaft door 14 is not connected wtih carraige 36; however, upon movement of elevator car 10 to the landing of shaft door 14 means are provided to interlock shaft door 14 and carriage 36. A lever 156 is pivotally mounted upon shaft door 14. The upper end of lever 156 is provided with a pin 158 upon which is mounted a' roller 157. Roll.

er 157 projects outwardly toward shaft 12 so that upon movement of car 10 to the landing of the shaft door, the roller is embraced by shoe 42 forming a positiveconnection between carriage 36 and door 14. The lower end of lever 156 is connected to a rod 160 by means of a rod yoke 161. Rod 160 is connected at one end to one arm 162 of a bell crank lever 164 and is supported by a spring abutment 165, mounted upon shaft door 14, at its opposite end. Rod 160 is pnovide'd with two sets of nuts 166. Compression springs 167 are mounted upon rod 160, one spring being inserted between each pair of nuts 166 and spring abutment 165. Springs 167 center roller 157 with respect to members 43 of shoe 42, and serve to make the connection between door 14 and shoe 42 flexible. The compression of springs 167 may be varied by adjust ing the position of nuts-166 upon rod 160. "f j i wall. When door 14' is closed,.arms 170 and x 171 are in a horizontal position, arm 170 be-' ing provided with a stop pin 173 that engages a lip 174 provided on arm 171 to maintain the arms in this position. Arms 170 and 171 when in a horizontal position serve as a lock ing means for door 14. An unlocking lever 17 5, provided with a projecting portion 179, is mounted upon stud 168. -Ley'er 175 upon .being moved in a clockwise direction, as

viewed in Figure 3, causes projecting portion 179 to engage and carry arm 170 upwardly with it, thus breaking arms 17 O and 171, and unlocking shaft door 14. Motion is imparted to lever 175 from hell crank 164 through link 176, link 176 being pivotally connected to arm 163 of bell crank 164 and to lever 175. A movable contact 177 of an interlock switch 178 is connected to door arm 171. Door 14 when it moves to open position moves contact 177 out of engagement with stationary contact 180, thus breaking the elevator operating circuit. It is necessary that contact 177 engage contact 180 before door 14 is completely closed in order that a good electrical connection may be had when the door is completely closed. The elevator operating circuit is closed, therefore, before the door is completely closed. The strength of springs 113 is such that it is possible to manually stop door 14 as it is. moved to its closed position under the influence of springs 113 and return it to its open position. Safety means are provided for locking the door against opening movement after the door has been moved in a closing direction to such a point that contact 177 is just about to engage contact 180 and door arms 170 and 171 are still broken. The safety means comprises a pawl 181 pivoted to door 14, the pawl engaging a rack 182, positioned on the adjacent landing, after door14 has moved to the above mentioned point in its closing movement. Back 182 is provided with a projecting portion 183 that engages pawl 181 upon an attempt to force the door open and prevents movement in an opening direction. As door arms 170 and 171 move into their horizontal locking position to lock shaft door 14 in its closed position, pawl 181 disengages rack 182. Pawl 181 does not interfere with the opening of door 14 from its fully closed positionsince, asthe door so moves, pawl 181 swings about its pivotal support and rides over projecting portion 183.

A two-speed shaft door 190, provided with mechanism adapting it to be actuated by the shaft door and car gate operating mechanism, is shown in Figure 8. Numerals 191 and 192 indicate movable sections of shaft door 1.90. Door section 191 is provided with suitable hangers 193 mounted upon track 194, anddoor section 192 is provided with suitable hangers195 mounted upon traele196. Door section 192 isprovided with door arms 197 and 198, interlock switch 200 being connected to door arm 198. .Door section 191 is provided with a door arm 201 connected to door arm 198 by means of a pivot bracket 202. Pin 203 mounted upon arm 197 is adapted to engage lip 204 formed upon arm 198 to maintain the arms in a horizontal position when the door sections are closed- A roller 205 is mounted upon a lever 206, lever 206 in turn being pivoted to door section 192. Lever 206 is connected at its lower end to rod 207: rod 207 is in turn connected at one end to one arm of hell crank 208. Spring stop nuts 210 are adjnstablymounted upon rod 207- and compression springs'211 are mounted upon rod 207 between stop nuts 210 and a spring abut- I ment 212 mounted upon section 192. A lever 213 connects the other arm of bell crank 208 \\'1th an unlocking lever 214. A safety device, comprising pawl 215 and rack 216, is provided, pawl 215 being mounted upon section 191 and rack'216 being mounted upon the landing adjacent the sections 191 and 192. The operation of the two-spaced door mechanism, shown in Figure 8, is identical with that of the single speed door mechanism, shown in Figure 3. The operation of the shaft door-and car gate operating mechanism will be described as applied to the single speed door, shown in Figure 3. i

In operation, car gate 13 and shaft door '14 are normally closed, car gate 13 being latchedto carriage 36 and shaft door 14 being locked in its closed position by arms 170 and 171. Carriage 36 is held in the position shown in Figure 2 under the force of springs 113. As elevator car 10 moves within shaft 12, shoe 42 normally clears roller 157 sufficiently to avoid collision between the shoe and roller. The divergent ends of members 43 and the flexible connection between roller 157 and door 14 avoid danger of possible collision because of lateral movement of car 10 as it moves within the shaft;

When elevator car 10 is stopped opposite shaft door 14, shoe 42 embraces roller 157. When it is desired to open car gate 13 and shaft door 14, motor 60 is energized causing operating sprocket 46 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 2, thereby imparting linear motion to carriage 36 through chain 57 in a car gate and shaft door opening direction. During the initial portion of such movement of carriage 36 roller 157 is caused to move slightly relative to 175, thereby unlocking shaft door 14 and breaking operating circuit by switch 178. Car gate 13 and shaft door 14 are then moved to fully open position. Carriage 36 as it so moves acts through rocker arm 72, yoke arm 73, arm yoke 74, link and yoke 76 to move rods .104 andyoke .93 upwardly. Rods 104 as they so move extend springs 113, storing up energy to be expended in closing the door and gate. Yoke 93 as it so moves causes check cylinder 136 to move upwardly to cushion and check the movement of the ate and door duringthe last few inchesiof t eir opening movement. As long as motor 60 remains energized, car'gate 13 and shaft door 14 are held open. I 7

When it is desired to close car gate 13 and shaft door 14, motor 60 is deenergized. Springs 113 then acting through rods 1'04, yoke 76, link 75, arm yoke 74, yokearin 73 and rocker arm 72'cause carriage 361:0 move in a car gate arid shaft door closing direc tion. It is to be noted that rocker arm 72 and yoke,

horizontal position locking shaft door 14 their'closing movement.

It is to be noted that small misaligmnents ofthe rollers mouned upon the several shaft impossible toeXert more pressure on the clos-' doors will not interfere with the operation of the mechanism, the lost motion connections between the rollers and the doors, and the flanged ends of the carriageshoe permitting proper operation.

Itis also to "be noted that two-speed doors I may be simply and successfully operated by the mechanism. By connecting the second panel to the door arms of the first panel as illustrated in Figure 8, both panels are quickly and simultaneously operated.

It is pointed out that the car gate 'and shaft doors may be opened and closed very rapidly and at the same time very quietly.

The opening and closing checks allow the motors to open and close the gate and doors without retardation for nearly their entire movement, the retarding action taking place during the last three or four inches of the gate and door movement.

It is also pointed out that the mechanism isinherently safe. \Vhen the shaft door is open the operating circuit is open and when the operating circuit is closed the shaft door can only be opened from its fully closed posi- -tion. Vith the spring closing means, it is ing of the door and gate than is contained in 'the springs. This pressure is kept within safe limits so that a person caught in a doorway-as the door moves to its closed position cannot possibly be injured by the closing of the door.

As nianyv changes'could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention couldi be made Without departing from the scope thereof, itis intended that all matter contained inithe above description or,

showni'ri the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. i

What is claimed is:

1. ,In an elevator system having anelevator car, a car gate, a shaftway opening and" :1

' shaft door for said opening, a car gate and shaft door operating mechanism; said-operating mechanism comprlslng;

movablemember when the car stops opposite the shaft door; motor actuated means mounted upon the car and operably. connecta. movable member mounted upon the car; means con-' necting. the gatcto the movable member; means for connecting the shaft door to thespring actuated toggle means mounted upon the car and operably connected to the movable member for moving the member to close the gate and the door.

2. In anaelevator system having an elevator car, a gate for said car, a plurality of shaftway openings and a shaft door for each of said openings, a car gate and shaft door operating mechanism, said operating mechanism comprising; a carriage mounted upon the car to travel parallel to the travel of the, gate and doors to be operated; meansconnecting-the car gate to the carriage; means for connecting any one of the shaft doors to the carriage when the car stops opposite that door; a motor mounted upon the car; means operably connecting the motor to the carriage for causing the carriage to move to open the gate and the door, opposite to which the car has stopped, upon energization of the motor; a tension spring mounted upon the car; and means operably connecting the spring to the carriage for causing the spring to be extended during the opening movement and, upon deenergization of the motor, for causing the carriagg to move to close the gate and the door iihder the influence of the spring.

3. In an elevatm' system having an elevator car, a gate for said car, a plurality of shaftway openings and a shaft door for each of said openings, a car gate and shaft door operatingmechanism. said operating mechanism comprising: flexible transmission means mounted upon the carto travel parallel to the travel of the gate and doors to be oper ated; means connecting the car gate to the transmission means; means for connecting any one of the shaft doors to the transmission means when the car stops @posite that door; a motor mounted upon the car and operably connected to the transmission means for causing linear travel of the transmission means in a direction to cause the gate and door to open when energy is supplied to the motor; a spring motor mounted upon the car;

. and means for operably connecting the spring 1 motor to the car gate, and tdthe shaft door,- opposite to which the car has stopped, for closing the gate and door when the energy" supply to the motor is discontinued.

4. In an elevator system having an elevator car, a gate for said car, a plurality of shaftway openings and a shaft door for each of said openings, a car gate and shaft door operating mechanism, said operating mechanism comprising; a carriage mounted upon the car to travel parallel to the travel. of the gate and doors to be operated; means con-"y necting the car gate to the carriage: means for connecting any one of the shaft doors to A the carriage whenthejcar stops opposite that door; a motor mounted- 'upon the car: a'chain- 7 drive from the motor to the carriage for caus ing the carriage to move to open the gate andv the door, opposite to which the car has stopped, upon energization of the motor; a spring motor mounted upon the car; a toggle connect-ion between the spring motor and the carriage for causing the spring motor to store up energy during the opening movement and, upon deenergization of the motor, for transmitting the stored up energy from the spring motor to the carriage to cause the carriage to move to close the gate and door; and means for retarding the movement of the gate and door during the final portion of their movement in either an opening or a closing direction.

5. In an elevator system having an elevator car, a gate for said car, a plurality of shaftway openings and a shaft door for each of said openings, a car gate and shaft door operating mechanism, said operating mechanism comprising; a carriage; means supporting the carriage for travel parallel to the travel of the gate and the doors to be operated; a shoe mounted upon the carriage; means connecting the car gate to the shoe; means projecting from each of the shaft doors, said shoe embracing the projecting means of any one door upon the car stopping opposite that door, thereby connecting that door to the carriage; an operating chain mounted upon the car and connected to the carriage; a motor mounted upon the car and operably connected to the chain, the motor upon being energized causing the chain to move the carriage in a direction to open the gate andthe door, opposite to which the car has stopped; a toggle mounted upon the car and connected to the carriage; aspring motor mounted upon the car andoperably connected to the toggle, the spring motor, upon the motor being deenergized, causing the toggle to move the carriage to close the gate and the door; and means for retarding the movement of the gate and the door during the final portion of their movement in either an opening or a closing direction.

6. In an'elevator system having an elevator car, a gate for said car, a plurality of shaftway openings and a shaft door for each of said openings, 21 car gate and shaft door operating mechanism, said operating mechanism comprising; a track carried by the car; a-

carriage mounted upon the track to move parallel to the travel of the gate and the doors to be operated; a'shoe mounted upon said carriage; a link connecting the car gate to the shoe; a member mounted upon and pro ect ing from each oft-he shaft doors, said shoe embracing the projecting member of any one door upon the car stopping opposite that door, thereby locking the door to the carriage; a length of chain mounted upon the car parallel with the track; means connecting the chain to the carriage; a motor mounted upon the *ar and operably connected to the chain, the motor upon being energizedimparting linear motion to the chain to move the'carriage in a direction to open the car gate and the shaft door, opposite to which the car has stopped; a toggle connected to the carriage; a spring motor operably connected to the toggle, the toggle moving the spring motor to store up energy when the motor moves the gate and door to open position, whereby upon the motor being deenergized, the spring motor, acting through the toggle, moves the carriage in a direction to close the gate and the door; and means for checking' the movement of the gate and the door during the final portion of their movement in either an opening or a closing direction.

7., In an elevator system having an elevator car, a gate for said car, a plurality ofshaftway openings and a shaft door for each of said openings, a car gate and shaft door operating mechanism, said operating mechanism comprising; a track mounted upon the upper portion of the elevator -car; a carriage mounted upon said track to move parallel to the travel of the gate and doors to be opera ed; a shoe projecting from the carriage; a link connecting the car gate to the shoe; a roller mounted upon and projecting from each of the shaft doors, said shoe embracing the roller of any one door upon the car stopping opposite that door, thereby locking that door to the carriage; an operating sprocket mounted upon one side of the upper portion of the car; an idler pulley mounted upon 'the other side of the upper portion of the car;

a chain passing over the sprocket and the pulley; means connecting the chain to the carriage, whereby the carriage is caused to move when linear motion is imparted to the chain from the operating sprocket; an electric motor mounted upon the car and operably connected to the sprocket,the motor upon being energized, causing the sprocket to rotate to impart linear movement to the chain in a direction to open the car gate and the shaft door, opposite to which the car has stopped; a spring motor mounted upon the car; a toggleronnection between the spring motor and the carriage, the electric motor storing up energy in the spring motor, through the toggle connection, when the door and gate are being opened whereby, upon the electric motor being deenergized, the spring motor acting through the toggle connection moves the carriage in a direction to close the gate and door; and n'ieans connected to the toggle and operated by the movement thereof for checking the movement of the gate andmembers; a roller mounted upon and projecting from each of the shaft doors, said vertical members embracing the, roller of any one door upon the car moving opposite that door, thereby locking that door to the carriage; a base mounted u'pon'one side of the upper portion of the car; an operating sprocket mounted upon the other side of the upper portion of the car; an idler pulley mounted .upon the base; a chain passing over the sprocket and the pulley; means connecting the chain to the carriage whereby the carriage is caused to move on the track structure when linear motion is imparted to the chain fromthe operating sprocket; an electric motor mounted upon'the car and operably connected to the sprocket. the electric motor, upon being energized, causing the sprocket to impart linear movement 'to the chain in a direction to open the car gate and the shaft door, opposite to which the car has stopped: a spring motor mounted upon the base; a link pivoted at one of its ends to the carriage; a link pivoted at one of its ends to the base, the links being pivotally connected at their opposite ends, thereby constituting a toggle between the carriage and the base; a link connecting the spring motor to the second mentioned link, thereby connecting the spring to the carriage through the toggle, the spring motor acting through the toggle to oppose the movement of the carriage when the carriage is moved in an opening direction under the influence of the electric motor, and upon the electric motor being deenergized acting through the toggle to move the carriage in a direction to c ose the car gate and the shaft door; and means mounted upon the base and operably connected to-the toggle for checking the movement of the gate and door during the latter portion of their movement in either an opening or a closing direction.

9. In an elevator system having an elevator car. a 'shaftway opening and a shaft door for said opening, a shaft door operating mechanism, said operating mechanism comprising: a carriage carried by the car for travel thereon in the direction of travel of the door; means for moving the carriage in a door opening. direction; door arms normally aligned for locking therdo'o'r in closed position; means flexibly connecting the door to the carriage, said means moving relative to the door during the initial portion of the movement of the carriage: and means operably connecting the flexible connecting means to the door arms for causing the arms to break during said relative movement thereby unlocking the door, the door being moved to open position during the final the movement of the carriage.

10. In an elevator system having an elevator car, a shaftway opening and a shaft door for said opening, a shaft door operating mechanism, saidvoperating mechanism comprising; a carriage carried by the car for travel thereon in the direction of travel of the door; means for moving the carriage in a door opening direction; door arms normally aligned for locking the door in closed position; a shoe carried by the carriage; a lever pivoted between its ends to the door, one end of the lever being flexibly connected to the door, thereby providing for relative movement between the lever and the door; a roller mounted upon the other end of the lever, the shoe embracing the roller when the car stops opposite the door, thereby flexibly connecting the door to the carriage; and means for operably connecting the lever to the door arms, said means causing the arms to break upon the lever moving relative to the door, movement of the carriage in an opening direction causing the lever to move relative to the door to break the door arms thereby unlocking the ,door, continued movement of the carriage in an opening direction moving the door to open position.

In testimony'w hereofl'I have signed my name to this specification.

\ THOMAS BRADY.

portion of 

